New Zealand made a solid start to the opening cricket Test against England here Wednesday, and were 87 for one at lunch.

Jamie How had moved cautiously to 39 while Stephen Fleming, moving at a brisker rate, was on 29.

The only batsman to fall was opener Matthew Bell for 19 when he attempted to thrash a half-volley from Steve Harmison but instead edged a chest-high catch to Alastair Cook in the gully.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first on an easy wicket with little cloud cover.

Bell and How were untroubled by the opening attack and the first victim of the morning was England's Ian Bell, fielding at silly mid on, who was struck on the arm by a pull shot from his New Zealand namesake and taken to hospital.

Mathew Bell had been looking for the boundaries and had four to his credit before being dismissed by Harmison.

New Zealand have included offspinner Jeetan Patel in their playing line up to partner Vettori, using two spinners in a Test for the first time since playing South Africa in Cape Town in 2006.

Patel's inclusion was at the expense of seam bowlers Mark Gillespie and Grant Elliot.